Brush holder



Dec. 16, 1924. 1 ,519,304

F. T. HAGUE BRUSH HOLDER Filed Jan. s, i925 Patented Dec. I6, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD T. HAGUE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNO'R TO WESTINGI-IOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BRUSH HOLDER.

Application filed January 5, 1923. Serial No. 610,778.

To all 'whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, FLOYD T. Hacen, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Alle- I gheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvemen-t in Brush Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dynamo-electric machines employing commutator cylinders and has particular relation to means for temporarily lifting the brushes from the commutator cylinder when necessary.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple, compact and effective brush lifting means which is adapted for service in connection with rotary converters, particularly such machines as employ main and commutating pole field windings and are adapted to be started from an alternatingcurrent supply circuit.

Another object is to provide brush lifting means wherein the brush is moved in its holder in the longitudinal axis thereof in order to eliminate any tendency to cant and bind in the holder.

Other objects will be apparent from the detailed description and claims, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, in end elevation, of the brush mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a view, in front elevation, of the same, parts being broken away,

F ig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in end elevation, of a portion of the operating mechanism,

Fig. l is a plan. view thereof,

Figs. 5 and 6 are views in front and side elevation, respectively, of one of the detailed parts of the mechanism, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are views in side and front elevation, respectively, of a detailed part of the operating mechanism.

The brush-holder mechanisms, of which there are a number spaced about the commutator cylinder 1 and only one of which is shown, each comprise a plurality of spaced brush holders 2 (Fig. 2), each having a bracket extension 3 (Fig. 1), integral therewith, by which itis adjustably secured te' a cari-ier @support s by a bolt 5. Slidably mounted within each holder is a loosely tting brush 6, and secured to the upper end of each brush 6 is an overextended portion or member 7, which, as here shown, consists of a substantially U-shaped clip fixed to and forming a part of the brush. The brushes are also electrically connected to the holder by connectors 8.

In order to apply resilient pressure to the brush for the purpose of maintaining the same in contact with the commuta-tor, I employ a flat spring 9, which is coiled around a pin 10 disposed across a pocket 11 formed in the brush bracket. The free end of the spring 9 projects under the overextended portion 7 and normally presses upon the top of the brush, directly over the center thereof. The tension is regulated by adjusting a dog 12 which is attached to the pin 10, the dog being maintained in adjusted position by engagement with a ratchet 13 on the brush bracket.

To the bracket portions of the end brush holders, is adjustably secured, by the bolts 5, a pair of hanger bearings 14 which support a rock shaft 15 in parallel relation to the support 4. To the shaft 15 is fixedly attached a plurality of laterally extended brush lifting arms 16 which, for convenience, terminate in a unitary rod 17, that extends beneath the spring members 9 in parallel relation to the operating shaft 15. The rock shaft 15 has secured thereto, by a set screw 18, a lever 19 of insulating ma.- terial which, in turn, is connected, through a link 2O of insulating material, to any suitable means (not shown) for actuatingl the lifting mechanism.

Arc barriers 21 and 22, respectively, of insulating material, are employed with the brush-lifting device, the barrier 21 heilig comiected to the fixed support by bolts 23 and the barrier 22 being connected to the brush holder by bolts 24. It will be seen that my improved brush-lifting structure is particularly adapted to co-operate with the arc-barrier mounting in order to provide sufficient space for all of the parts.

When it is desired to lift the brushes clear of the commutator, the shafts 15 are turned to cause the rods 17 of the lifting arms to engage beneath the spring members 9, which, in turn cause the members 9 to engage the overextended portions 7 of the brushes 6, thereby simultaneously raising the brushes equal distances in their holders. By turning back the shaft l5, the brushes may be lowered to their former positions of engagement with the commutator cylinder.

While I have shown and describe-d a certain embodiment of my invention, I desire that the said embodiment shall be regarded as illustrative only and that the appended claims shall be accorded the broadest construction consistent with the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a brush holder, a brush therefor, means for normally applying pressure to the brush, said means being operable for temporarily lifting the brush, and means for lifting the brush lifting means.

2. The combination of a brush holder, a brush therefor, yieldable means for normally applying pressure to the brush and for temporarily lifting the brush and means by which the said yielable means may be moved to effect a temporary eleveation of the brush thereby.

3. The combination of a brush holder, a brush therefor provided with an overextended head portion, yielable means extending beneath the overextended portion of and applying feed pressure to the brush, and means for elevating the pressure means to effect a temporary lifting of the brush.

4. The combination of a brush holder, a brush therefor provided With an overextended head portion, yielable means extending beneath said over-extended portion and applying feed pressure to the brush, and a rock shaft provided with means for engaging said yieldable means and raising the same to effect a temporary lifting of the brush.

5. In a dynamo-electric machine, a support, a plurality of brush holders carried thereby, a plurality of brushes for said holders, a plurality of yieldable members for said brushes, each member being adapted. normally to apply pressure to a brush and also adapted as a temporary lifting member for the brush, and means for simultaneously elevating the lifting members to effect a temporary lifting of the brushes.

6. In a dynamo-electric machine, a support, a plurality of brush holders carried thereby, a plurality of brushes for said holders, each brush having an overextending head portion, a plurality of yieldable members for said brushes each extending beneath the corresponding overextending portion and adapted to normally apply pressure to the corresponding brush and also adapted as a temporary brush lifting means, and means for elevating the pressure means to effect a temporary lifting of the brushes.

7. In a dynamo-electric machine, a support, a plurality of brush holders carried thereby, a lurality of brushes for said holders, a pllurality of yieldable members for said brushes, each member being adapted normally to apply pressure to a brush and also adapted as a temporary lifting member for the brush, and a rock-shaft having means extending therefrom for simultaneously elevating the lift-ing members to effect a temporary lifting of the brushes.

8. In a dynamo-electric machine, a support, a plurality of brush holders carried thereby, a plurality of brushes for said holders, each brush having an overextending head clip, a plurality of yieldable members for said brushes, each member extending benenath a clip and adapted to normally apply pressure to a brush and also adapted as a temporary brush lifting means, and a rook-shaft having means extending therefrom for elevating the pressure means for temporarily lifting the brushes.

9. In a dynamo-electric machine, a support, a plurality of brush holders carried thereby, a plurality of brushes for Said holders, a plurality of brush tension members, each adapted normally to apply pressure to one of said brushes in one direction and adapted to be adjusted in the opposite direction to lift said brush, means for regulating the tension of each of said members, and means for adjusting said tension members to lift the brushes.

10. In a dynamo-electric machine, supporting means, a plurality of brush holders carried thereby, a plurality of brushes for the holders, each having an engageable head portion, a plurality of tension members in engagement with the heads of and normally applying pressure to said brushes, means for varying the pressure of each tension member, and a rock shaft having means extending therefrom adapted to temporarily` engage and lift said tension members and the brushes engaged thereby.

11. In combination, a brush structure comprising a brush holder, a brush therefor, a spring arm for normally supplying pressure to the brush, an overhanging member on said brush for engagement with said spri arm, a mounting means ony one side of sali brush for supporting said spring arm, a

pivotally mounted brush-lifting member on i the same side of said brush and adapted to elevate said spring arm, and a rocker arm extending above the brush structure for actuating said brush-lifting member.

12. In combination, a commutator cylin- Y der, a brush structure comprising a brush bearing on said commutator cylinder, a brush holder therefor, a spring arm for normally supplying pressure to the brush,l an overhanging member on said brush for engagement with said spring arm, a mountolned to extend under the other brush structure, whereby a compact unit. is provided.

In testimony Whel'eoi, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of December, 1922.

FLOYD T. HAGUE. 

